Means for treating and exercising the ocular muscles



June 23, 1931. w. M. UPDEGRAVE 1,811,034

MEANS FOR TREATING AND EXERCISING THE OCULAR MUSCLES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed latch 18, 1930 R O U 6 E OLR SST/RED \0 QTSPORA 8EORW6EK .1 .lfllll i i ia Z6 MOM A 26 3.9 WIM Upde gflapfi 31 June 23, 1931. w. M. UPDEGRAVE 1,811,034

MEANS FOR TREATING AND EXERCISING THE OCULAR MUSCLES Filed latch 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I figcgr. 3. 37

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Patented Jane 23, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. UPDEGBAVE, F JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA MEANS FOR TREATING AND EXERCISING THE OGULAR MUSCLES Application filed March 18, 1980. Serial No. 436,824.

This invention relates to a method and means for testing, exercising and developing the ocular muscles of the eyes and to stimulate theintrinsic or ciliary muscles, resulting 6 in a perfect balance of the muscles, eliminating ,eye strain and the resultant defective vision.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to develop the external muscles of the eye by moving rotatable objects before the eyes, causing the eyes to pull against the muscles, when the eyes follow the movements of the objects.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character having means to cause the objects supported thereon to move in various directions and in various ways to exercise the musclesfor curing various defects in vision.

proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described 5 and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spiritof the invention. Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof. I Figure 3 is a elevational view illustrating the opposite side of the device.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the device. Figure 5 is an elevational view illustrating thti manner of supportinga chart.

1 .whee showing the manner of supporting the pinwheel.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates the base plate of the device, which is provided with an upstanding end portion 6. Secured to the base plate 5, is a bracket 7 through which the shaft 8 extends, the bracket being provided with' bearings to receive the shaft.

The shaft8 is provided with a head 9 fitted in thersocket 10 at the upper end of the shaft 2 re 6 is an elevational view of a pin- 11 to secure the shaft 8 in position. At the upper end of the shaft Sis a gear 9 which F is engaged by the rack bar 10 that is eccentrically connected to the gear 11', as clearly shown by Figure 4 of the drawings. The gear 11 is formed with internal teeth which are in mesh with the pinion 12 mountmounted in a bearing formed on the casting 18. Gear 18 meshes with pinion 19 which is secured to one end of the shaft 20 to which shaft the gear 21 is secured, the gear 21 being in mesh with the pinion 22, mounted on the shaft 23 of the motor 24. On one end 79 of the shaft 17 is an arm 25 to which the rack bar 26 is pivotally connected, the-rack bar operating through the bearing 27. As shown, the rack bar 27 is in mesh with the pinion 28 that in turn is'lnounted on the shaft 29, which is square to 'fit in a square opening of the disk 30, so that the disk may-be rotated in one direction, for a predetermined distance, and returned, reversing the movement of the disk, and providing a movement of the disk which is substantially oscillatory.

The opposite end of the shaft 17 is square to fit in the square opening in one end of the tubular arm 32, into which the rod 33 extends, there being provided a set screw 34 for securing the rod in position. Thus it will be seen that the rod 33 may be adjusted to various positions with-respect to the tubular arm 32.

The free end of the rod 33 extends laterally as at 35 where it provides a support for the chart 36, the chart being secured to the rod 33 by means of the straps 37, so that the chart will hang vertically as the rod and arm are rotated.

Pins 38 and 39 respectively extend from the disk 30 and provide supports for the charts 40 which are mounted on the hangers 41 insuch a way that the disk may rotate, and the charts held in vertical positions.

As shown by Figure 6, the pinwheel which no is indicated by the reference character 38 is mounted on the rod 39' that in turn is positioned in the end of the tubular arm 32, in place of the rod 33, so that the rod 39' may be adjusted to increase or diminish the diameter of the circle or path in which the pinwheel moves. It is contemplated to view the pinwheel through prism lenses placed before the patients eyes in different positions, to cause exertions of the weak muscles of the eyes resulting in the muscles pulling harder, which will have a tendency to increase the strength of the muscles.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that due to the construction shown and described, the frame of the device may be rotated in a horizontal plane, in one direction, and reversed, repeating such movements to exercise the eyes when viewing the charts or objects supported by the device.

The disk 30 may be removed from the shaft 27 and the arm 32 substituted therefor, depending on the treatment of the eyes of the person. When in operation the entire instrument oscillates approximately 180 degrees, while the inwheel or disk are in motion, and since the disk 30 makes only a half turn, it is impossible for a patient to strain the eye muscles, as the patient cannot concentrate when viewing a moving object, allowing the eyes to remain in a relaxed condition which has a tendency to increase the acuity of VlSlOl'l.

I claim:

1. A device for operating optical charts for eye testing purposes, comprising a pivoted base, means for operating the base in a horizontal plane, gearing mounted on the base, a supporting member supported by the gearing and adapted to oscillate in a vertical plane, and pivoted members mounted on the supporting member.

2. A device for operating optical charts for eye testing purposes,compr1sing a pivoted base, a support for the base, a gear on the support for the base, a rack bar carried by the base and meshing with the gear to cause the base to oscillate, a shaft on the base, means for causing the shaft to oscillate, and a supporting member on the shaft to oscillate therewith, and pivoted members on the supporting member.

3. A device for operating optical charts for eye testing purposes, comprising a pivoted base, a support for the base, means for oscillating the base in a horizontal plane, gearing on the base, a shaft operated by the gearing, a disk-like support mounted on the shaft, and movable objects mounted on the disk-like support.

4. A device for operating optical charts for eye testing purposes, comprising a pivoted base, gearing on the base, means for operatin the gearing to cause the base to oscillate m a horizontal plane, a shaft on the base,

said gearing adapted to oscillate the shaft, and a supporting disk mounted on the shaft for supporting objects to be used by the pa tient. I

5. A device for operating optical charts for eye testing purposes, comprising a pivoted base, gearing on the base, a horizontally disposed shaft mounted on the base and o erated by the gearing, interchangeable mem ers on the ends of the shaft to move with the shaft, and said interchangeable members carrying objects to be viewed by the patient under treatment.

6. A device for operating optical charts for eye testing purposes, comprising a pivoted base, means for oscillating the base in a horizontal plane, gearing mounted on the base, a shaft oscillated by the gearing, a tubular arm removably mounted on one end of the shaft, a rod adj ustably mounted within the tubular arm, said rod having a right angled extremity, and a movable member mounted on the right angled extremity of the rod, to be viewed by the patient.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afi'ixed my signature.

WILLIAM M. UPDEGRAVE. 

